International

Hezbulah says an extension of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon “will not be acceptable”

The Lebanese Shii group Hizbulá warned on Thursday that a postponement of the withdrawal of the Israeli troops present in Lebanon, which must be completed in the next three days, will not be “acceptable”, and asked the Government to act to enforce the deadline established by the ceasefire agreement.

“We will follow the evolution of the situation that is supposed to culminate in the coming days with a total withdrawal. No violation of the agreement and its guarantees will be acceptable, and no attempt to evade them under futile premises,” the political and armed movement said in a statement.

This Sunday expires the ceasefire agreement between the parties, which stipulates the end of the invasion initiated by Israel on October 1 in a period of 60 days, the exit of Hizbula from the border strip and a greater deployment of the Lebanese Army in that region.

The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Mike Herzog, told Army radio on Thursday that they are maintaining contacts with Washington, mediator of the pact, to extend the implementation deadline, while Hebrew media reported an alleged request for an extension of 30 additional days.

“Some leaks that speak of the enemy postponing his withdrawal and staying longer in Lebanon call for everyone to act effectively, especially the political authorities of Lebanon to pressure the countries that sponsor the agreement,” Hezbulá demanded in his statement.

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He also urged them to proceed in the coming days in a way that guarantees the deployment of the Lebanese Army “to the last inch of territory” and not to allow any “pretext or argument” to prolong the Israeli invasion of the south of the country.

The Shiite formation warned that a breach of the date will mean a “flagrant” violation of the pact and the beginning of a “new chapter of occupation”, so the Lebanese State must address the matter using “all” the means guaranteed by international laws.

Since the entry into force of the agreement, on November 27, Israeli troops have withdrawn from almost the entire western sector of the border strip and the Lebanese Army has been deployed in about 80 new points, but with only three days to go, there is still a long way to complete the process.

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.

International

Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”

International

Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.

The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”

The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”

Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.

The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.